Pakistan Makes Child Marriage a Crime: Up to 7 Years in Prison Under Landmark New Law

Pakistan's Punjab Province Makes Child Marriage a Crime With Up to 7 Years in Prison

The governor of Pakistan's Punjab Province signed a landmark ordinance on Wednesday that raises the minimum legal age of marriage to 18 for both men and women, replacing a nearly century old law that had different thresholds based on gender.

The Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026 eliminates the previous distinction under the 1929 Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, which set the minimum age at 18 for men but only 16 for women.

Under the new law, anyone who contracts, facilitates, or promotes child marriage faces up to seven years imprisonment and fines reaching 1 million Pakistani rupees, roughly $3,500. Adults who marry children face two to three years of rigorous imprisonment.

Marriage registrars who violate the law face up to one year in prison. In a particularly significant provision, cohabitation resulting from child marriage is now classified as child abuse, punishable by five to seven years imprisonment.

All offenses under the ordinance are non bailable and non compoundable. Courts of Session are required to conclude cases within 90 days. The ordinance takes immediate effect across Punjab, which is home to approximately 120 million residents.

Christian leaders and advocacy groups welcomed the reform. Ejaz Alam Augustine, a Christian provincial assembly member, praised the decision.

The establishment of 18 as the uniform minimum age sends a clear message that child marriage will not be tolerated.

The reform is especially significant for Pakistan's Christian minority, which has long faced the scourge of forced child marriages, often involving the kidnapping and conversion of young Christian girls.

The ordinance currently requires legislative approval to become permanent law when the Punjab provincial assembly reconvenes.

New Pakistan Law Criminalizes Child Marriage With Severe Penalties Across Punjab

Rights organizations have long called for stricter child marriage laws in Pakistan, where UNICEF estimates that roughly 21% of girls are married before the age of 18. The new ordinance represents one of the strongest legal protections against the practice in the country's history.

For Pakistan's Christian community, which makes up less than 2% of the population, the law could offer a critical layer of protection. Reports from organizations like the Centre for Social Justice have documented hundreds of cases of underage Christian girls being abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to older men each year.

The Crusader's Opinion

This is a victory worth celebrating, but let us not be naive. Pakistan has had laws on the books before that were supposed to protect Christians and minorities. The question is enforcement. Every year, hundreds of young Christian girls in Pakistan are kidnapped, forcibly converted, and married off to men twice their age, and the police do nothing. If this ordinance is enforced equally across religious lines, it could save lives. If it is not, it is just another piece of paper. We will be watching. The world should be watching.

Take Action

• Pray for Pakistan's Christian minority, especially young girls vulnerable to forced marriage and conversion. Share this story to raise awareness.
• Support The Shepherd's Shield, which works to protect persecuted Christians worldwide.
• Donate to Open Doors USA, which ranks Pakistan as one of the most dangerous countries for Christians.
• Contact the Pakistani Embassy in your country and urge them to ensure the ordinance is enforced equally for all religious communities. The Pakistani Embassy in the US can be reached at (202) 243 6500.

Support the International Christian Concern, which advocates for persecuted Christians in Pakistan and across the globe.